BATON ROUGE- Governor John Bel Edwards has signed legislation to end a practice that caused members of the military who deployed overseas to face higher auto insurance rates when they returned home.

Effective as of August 1, 2020, Senate Bill 16 was part of the Governor's package and received unanimous support in the Legislature.

Gov. Edwards issued a statement on Tuesday, June 9 stating, "One area where there was little disagreement this past Legislative Session was helping to make sure that members of the military were not charged higher auto insurance rates when they returned home from being deployed. I am proud to have signed this bill, which effectively ends the so-called Patriot Penalty and guarantees that our military heroes are not charged higher auto insurance rates. I appreciate Senator Luneau for bringing forward this solution, and for the entire Louisiana Legislature for supporting the members of our military. Auto insurance rates are too high in Louisiana and right now auto insurance companies can still legally increase rates based on a person’s gender, credit score and marital status. While these injustices remain, I am happy that we have at least crossed another – being deployed – off of the list.”   

The governor also posted the statement to social media.

One area where there was little disagreement this past Legislative Session was helping to make sure that members of the military were not charged higher auto insurance rates when they returned home from being deployed. #lagov #lalege

— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) June 9, 2020

Auto insurance rates are too high in Louisiana and insurance companies can still legally increase rates based on a person’s gender, credit score & marital status. While these injustices remain, I am happy that we have crossed being deployed off of the list. #lagov #lalege

— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) June 9, 2020